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The Digital Services Tax as a Tax on Location-Specific Rent

Author

Listed:
  • Wei Cui
  • Nigar Hashimzade

Abstract

In 2018, the European Council and the UK and Spanish governments each proposed to introduce a Digital Services Tax (DST), to be levied on the revenue of large digital platforms from advertising, online intermediation, and/or the transmission of data. We offer a rationalization of the DST as a tax on location-specific rent (LSR). That is, just as many countries already levy royalties on rent from extracting natural resources, one can think of the DST as levied on rent earned by digital platforms from particular locations. We provide stylized illustrations of how platform rent can be assigned to specific locations, even when users from multiple jurisdictions participate. We then elaborate the analogy between the DST and resource royalties, and analyze the DST’s incidence and effect on consumer welfare using a simple model. Finally, we argue that the DST suggests useful directions for redesigning international taxation in the age of labor-replacing AI technology.

Suggested Citation

  • Wei Cui & Nigar Hashimzade, 2019. "The Digital Services Tax as a Tax on Location-Specific Rent," CESifo Working Paper Series 7737, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_7737
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Cristina Simone & Antonio Laudando, 2025. "Principles and obligations of the Digital Markets Act in regulating the economic power of gatekeepers: Positive, negative or trade-off effects?," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 35(1), pages 1-27, December.
    2. Wolfram F. Richter, 2022. "Taxing Multinational Enterprises: A Theory-Based Approach to Reform," CESifo Working Paper Series 10119, CESifo.
    3. Ortmann, Regina & Simons, Dirk & Voeller, Dennis, 2021. "Real effects of an international tax reform for MNEs," arqus Discussion Papers in Quantitative Tax Research 265, arqus - Arbeitskreis Quantitative Steuerlehre.
    4. Wolfram F. Richter, 2022. "Granting Market Countries the Right to Tax Profit without Physical Nexus," CESifo Working Paper Series 9556, CESifo.
    5. Wolfram F. Richter, 2025. "Correction: Residual profit splitting: a theory-based approach to tax multinationals," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 32(3), pages 918-918, June.
    6. Becker, Johannes, 2025. "Optimal indirect taxation when firms avoid profit taxes," VfS Annual Conference 2025 (Cologne): Revival of Industrial Policy 325467, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    7. Wolfram F. Richter, 2019. "The Economics of the Digital Services Tax," CESifo Working Paper Series 7863, CESifo.
    8. Renato E. Reside, Jr., 2022. "Digital Services Taxes: Multilateral and Unilateral Efforts and an Overview of Recent Economic Models," UP School of Economics Discussion Papers 202203, University of the Philippines School of Economics.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • K34 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Tax Law
    • M37 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Marketing and Advertising - - - Advertising
    • M48 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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